And then there’s a time machine…
How do you carve more time out of a packed day? The most obvious answer is give up sleep, but I’m not willing to do that! Here are some alternatives that I’m putting into practice:
Just 15 Minutes…
A friend of a friend, who is training to be a life coach, passed along some tips to avoid procrastination and increase productivity. With a full-time job, a whirlwind of a 2-1/2 year old, a baby due in 8 short weeks, and a desire to have a life and hobbies outside of the above, I was all ears. My favorite, and the one I’m employing for quilting and a couple other areas of my personal life, is to devote 15 minutes each day to your goal. Fifteen minutes…seems manageable, doesn’t it? So many times I skip over working on something because I feel that I need to spend an hour or two to truly make progress. But really, think what you can get done in 15 minutes, especially in your sewing studio.
Tip: On the first day, spend the 15-minute period making a list of what you want to work on during these short work times. That way you won’t spend the first couple of minutes every day trying to decide how to spend those precious 15 minutes!
Accountability…
I follow a number of blogs, both quilting related and not, and liked this idea from Amy Ellis of Amy’s Creative Side (http://amyscreativeside.com/category/challenge-week/). It’s called ”One Thing, One Week Challenge.” The concept, according to Amy: ”I don’t want you to be stressed out about this challenge, but I do hope to MOTIVATE you. Finish something, start something, just don’t be overwhelmed by everything – One Thing! You decide, what’s reasonable for you to get done in a week’s time, and tell me your goal in the comments.” Amy and her readers hold each other accountable by sharing what they want to finish that week, and then there’s the fun of show and tell at the end! Participate in Amy’s Challenge, or share your goal with a friend or family member, along with your deadline.
Tip: This is a great technique for exercising, too!
Just Turn It Off…
Two big time suckers in my life are television and the Internet. Every year (I think in October or November?), there’s a push for a ”turn off the tv” week. Another great concept, but not one I’m usually willing to participate in. I should… [And, I'm too embarrassed to admit some of the shows my husband and I currently watch (let's just say they're not terribly intellectual), but I blame him for getting us hooked!]
The Internet is equally addictive, if not worse, because I spend time surfing the Internet and on Facebook for work (as well as for my own fun). I’m combining this one with the 15-minute plan, and taking my 15 minutes per day from my tv and/or Internet time.
Tip: We’ve also put our Netflix subscription on hold (you can do so for up to 90 days), which helps reduce our couch-sitting time. Perfect for summer, when we should be spending those daylight evening hours outside anyway!
The best news here? Not only am I finding more sewing time in my day, I’ve discovered a way to do it without giving up sleep! Hooray!
How do you make more time in your day? And, do you use it for quilting, or something else?
Lisa Swenson Ruble
About the Author: Lisa Swenson Ruble
I made my first quilt when I graduated from college and realized that I needed a hobby to fill all those hours that used to be dedicated to homework! Eleven years later, I'm completely addicted to quilting and thrilled that my day job as the managing editor for Quilt, Simple Quilts & Sewing and Quilt Almanac allows me to "play" with quilts and the friendly world of quilters!
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